Obituary of Daniel T Kennedy

Livestream of Funeral Mass

Click on the link (above) to connect to the funeral home's facebook page (sign in is NOT required). A livestream of the funeral mass will begin a few minutes before noon on Thursday, April 13th.

Daniel Thomas Kennedy, a world traveler and career engineer, passed away on April 10, at the age of 95. Dan was born and raised in County Kerry, Ireland to parents Thomas and Margaret.  After graduating from engineering school and serving in the Royal Air Force, Dan decided to move the United States for better opportunities.  He arrived in Boston and ultimately settled in Burlington where he lived for more than 50 years.  He worked as an Electrical Engineer for the Kennecott Corporation in Lexington for more than 20 years.  After Kennecott closed their local office, Dan retired for what would be the first time.  Not one for sitting still, he returned to the workforce with GTE Labs. He loved his work and stayed with GTE Labs until retiring again in 1995. 

Dan enjoyed putting his engineering skills to work, tinkering with any project he could get his hands on.   He was very proud that he could fix anything, especially cars, even if they took more time and resources than it was worth.  He frequently had several “projects” going on at the same time, sometimes more in his yard than the neighbors appreciated.

When he wasn’t using his hands on projects, he was using his feet on the dance floor. As an accomplished ballroom dancer, Dan was a regular at “Mosley’s on the Charles” in Dedham where he spent his Friday nights for years. He even parlayed his dance skills into his next career, as a dance host on cruise ships. It was a perfect match for Dan. He gave dance lessons on the cruise ships and they gave him free cruises around the world. What a deal! These cruises allowed him to see many great destinations around the world including Alaska, Europe, South America, Australia and Antarctica.

It was on one of those cruises that he met Barbara. That led them both to their next chapter as a couple. They enjoyed dancing, traveling, especially trips to Ireland to see family as well working on puzzles and their regular wine and cheese appetizer on their patio.  

Dan was a fixture around Burlington for 58 years. He could be found daily at the public library reading the Boston Globe and USA today. He would always say, “Why get it delivered, when you can read it for free at the library?”  Dan was always looking for a deal and he loved getting “good stuff cheap” at Building 19 ½.  He actually enjoyed their free coffee.  Dan was one of their first customers and one of their last.  He was very sad to see them go out of business.  He would have bought the store if we let him.  

Above all else, Dan was a proud dad to his three children and Poppy to his eight grandchildren. They were his pride and joy.

Daniel was the loving father to Dan Kennedy and his wife Andrea of Tewksbury, NJ, Peggy Kennedy and her husband Jim Polito of Foxboro, MA, and Kara Kennedy and her husband John Basuino of Fanwood, NJ. He was the beloved partner of Barbara Cahill. He was the treasured Poppy to his eight grandchildren, Shaun Kennedy, Christopher Kennedy, Alexandra Kennedy, Sara Polito, Chloe Polito, Maggie Basuino, Emma Basuino, and the late Samantha Kennedy. He was the dear brother to Kate Walker of Seattle, WA, and Gretta O’Quigley of Dublin, Ireland as well as his late siblings, Bridie, Jimmy, Paddy, Mary and Tommy.

Daniel’s Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, April 13, at noon, at St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803. The burial will be private, immediately following the Mass, at Pine Haven Cemetery, 84 Bedford Street, Burlington, MA 01803.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation in Daniel’s name to the People Helping People of Burlington, PO Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803, http://www.peoplehelpingpeopleinc.org/ or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, at www.jdrf.org

For online guestbook, service information, and video tribute, please visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net.